Many higher education institutions (HEIs) are already highly successful in engaging both public and private sector employers. However, if we are to realise the stretching ambition set for us by Lord Leitch, and transform the UK into a truly world-class skills economy by 2020, then we will need to scale up the number of working adults who are engaged in higher-level learning, and this in turn will necessitate even greater engagement between employers and HEIs. A growing list of universities have expressed an intention to make their core mission “business facing”; several of these have already received grants from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to take forward employer engagement projects which will help to build capacity and develop best practice.
The grant letter sent to HEFCE by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in January 2007 set out an expectation for 5,000 additional student places in demand-led, employer co-funded provision in the academic year 2008-09, and asked HEFCE to develop a growth strategy to deliver at least an additional 5,000 entrants year-on-year over the comprehensive spending review period. HEFCE have invited HEIs and Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) to develop joint proposals to respond to its allocation of the 5,000 additional co-funded places.